The Spanish-American War in Motion Pictures

The Spanish-American War was the first U.S. war captured on film, and this rare collection of early films allows the user to investigate some of the ways in which the birth of cinema emerged alongside, and shaped, changing ideas of gender, race, sexuality, and nation.

This site features 68 motion pictures of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Revolution produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company and the American Mutoscope & Biograph Company between 1898 and 1901. This glimpse at the some of the earliest available film footage enhances our understanding not only of this fledgling technology, but also offers a way to better understand U.S. imperialism at the turn of the century. These films include footage of troops, ships, notable figures, and parades shot in the U.S., Cuba, and the Philippines, in addition to reenactments of battles and related events. Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders are featured alongside footage of the USS Maine in Havana harbor and Thomas Edison’s fictional film Love and War about an American soldier’s exploits. “Special Presentation” puts the motion pictures in chronological order; brief essays provide a historical context for their filming. “Collection Connections” provides thought-provoking activities and student essay topics.

Read more in-depth reviews written by Matthew Karush of George Mason University at http://chnm.gmu.edu, and Bonnie M. Miller of Johns Hopkins University at http://historymatters.gmu.edu.

Or, explore other website reviews at http://chnm.gmu.edu/worldhistorys and http://historymatters.gmu.edu.